Over 8,800 M1 and M1A1 tanks have been produced -
3,273 M1 tanks were produced for the US Army. 4,796 M1A1 tanks were
built for the US Army and the US Marines, and 555 co-produced with
Egypt. Egypt has ordered a further 200 M1A1 tanks with production to
continue to 2005. 77 M1A2 tanks have been built for the US Army, 315 for
Saudi Arabia and 218 for Kuwait.

For the M1A2 Upgrade Program, over 600 M1 Abrams tanks are being
upgraded to M1A2 configuration. Deliveries began in 1998. The US Army
planned to procure a total of 1150 M1A2 SEP tanks but finally it was
decided to cancel future production of the M1A2 SEP from FY2004.
Production of new M1A1 and M1A2 Abrams tanks is in its final phase for
Foreign Military Sales.

Fighter
jets have long been a staple of any successful military campaign. They
are fast, effective, expensive and highly lethal machines, capable of
traveling long distances with enormous firepower and guns. This article
introduces us to the five top military jet fighters in service today,
the price we pay for them, and the future of jet fighting aviation.
Only fighter jets that made it into active duty were considered,
therefore the YF-23 Black Widow, the YF-17 Cobra, and the F-20
Tigershark were excluded. Additionally, only fighter jets were examined
and therefore bombers such as the F-117 Nighthawk and the F-21 Kfir
were also not included.

1. F-14 Tomcat

Type Interceptor/multi-role Fighter aircraftManufacturer GrummanDesigned by Bob Kress, engineering manager[1]Maiden flight 21 December 1970Introduction September 1974Retired 22 September 2006, USNStatus Active service with Iran, Limited Service in United States NavyPrimary users United States Navy, Islamic Republic of Iran Air ForceNumber built 712Unit cost US$38 million in 1998

The Grumman F-14 Tomcat is a supersonic, twin-engine, two-seat,
variable geometry wing aircraft. The F-14 was the United States Navy's
primary maritime air superiority fighter, fleet defense interceptor and
tactical reconnaissance platform from 1974 to 2006. It later performed
precision strike missions once it was integrated with LANTIRN. It was
developed after the collapse of the F-111B project, and was the first
of the American teen-series fighters which were designed incorporating
the experience of air combat in Vietnam against MiGs.

It entered service in 1972 with the U.S. Navy, replacing the F-4
Phantom II. It was later exported to the Imperial Iranian Air Force in
1976. It was retired from the U.S. Navy fleet on 22 September 2006,
having been replaced by the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. As of 2007, it
remains in service only with the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force.

Use

The F-14 has visual and all-weather attack capability to deliver
Phoenix and Sparrow missiles as well as the M-61 gun and Sidewinder
missiles for close in air-to-air combat. The F-14 also has the LANTIRN
targeting system that allows delivery of various laser-guided bombs for
precision strikes in air-to-ground combat missions. The F-14, equipped
with Tactical Air Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) is the Navy's only
manned tactical reconnaissance platform.

Achievements

The F-14 Tomcat has the ability to fire the AIM-54 Phoenix -- the longest ranged AAM in the world.

The McDonnell Douglas (now Boeing) F-15 Eagle is an all-weather
tactical fighter designed to gain and maintain air superiority in
aerial combat. It was developed for the U.S. Air Force, and first flew
in July 1972. The F-15E Strike Eagle derivative is an all-weather
strike fighter that entered service in 1989.

The Eagle's air superiority is achieved through a mixture of
unprecedented maneuverability and acceleration, range, weapons and
avionics. It can penetrate enemy defense and outperform and outfight
any current enemy aircraft. The F-15 has electronic systems and
weaponry to detect, acquire, track and attack enemy aircraft while
operating in friendly or enemy-controlled airspace. The weapons and
flight control systems are designed so one person can safely and
effectively perform air-to-air combat.

The F-15's superior maneuverability and acceleration are achieved
through high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and low wing loading. Low
wing-loading (the ratio of aircraft weight to its wing area) is a vital
factor in maneuverability and, combined with the high thrust-to-weight
ratio, enables the aircraft to turn tightly without losing airspeed.

Achievements

* The F-15 Eagle has a perfect combat record of 101 victories and zero defeats.
* During the Balkan conflict, the F-15E was the only fighter able to
attack ground targets around the clock, in all weather conditions.

3. F-16 Falcon

Manufacturer General Dynamics/Lockheed MartinMaiden flight 1974-02-02Introduction 1978-08-17Status Active: 724Reserve: 69Primary users United States Air Force and 24 other usersNumber built >4,000Unit cost US$14.6 million (F-16A/B) US$18.8 million (F-16C/D) in 1998Variants General Dynamics F-16XL
Mitsubishi F-2

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multirole jet fighter
aircraft developed by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin for the
United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight fighter, it evolved
into a successful multirole aircraft. The Falcon's versatility is a
paramount reason it was a success on the export market, serving 24
countries. The F-16 is the largest Western fighter program with over
4,000 aircraft built since production started in 1976. Though no longer
produced for the US Air Force, it still sees limited duty and is also
produced for export.

In an air combat role, the F-16's maneuverability and combat radius
(distance it can fly to enter air combat, stay, fight and return)
exceed that of all potential threat fighter aircraft. It can locate
targets in all weather conditions and detect low flying aircraft in
radar ground clutter. In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more
than 500 miles (860 kilometers), deliver its weapons with superior
accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft, and return to its
starting point. An all-weather capability allows it to accurately
deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions.

In designing the F-16, advanced aerospace science and proven
reliable systems from other aircraft such as the F-15 and F-111 were
selected. These were combined to simplify the airplane and reduce its
size, purchase price, maintenance costs and weight. The light weight of
the fuselage is achieved without reducing its strength. With a full
load of internal fuel, the F-16 can withstand up to nine G's -- nine
times the force of gravity -- which exceeds the capability of other
current fighter aircraft.

Achievements

* The F-16 flew more sorties in Operation Desert Storm than any other aircraft.
* The F-16 is the most numerous fighter in the West.

The Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a carrier-based fighter/attack
aircraft that entered service in 1999 with the United States Navy. The
fighter has recently been ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force.
The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a larger and more advanced development of
the F/A-18C/D Hornet.

Use

The F/A-18 Hornet is an all-weather aircraft and is used as an
attack aircraft, as well as a fighter. While in fighter mode, the
F/A-18 Hornets are used mainly as fighter escorts and fleet air
defense. While in attack mode, it is used for force projection,
interdiction and close and deep air support.

Achievements

The F/A-18 Hornet broke all records for tactical aircraft in
availability, reliability, and maintainability during Operation Desert
Storm

The F-22 Raptor is a fifth generation fighter aircraft which
utilizes fourth generation Stealth technology. It was originally
envisioned as an air superiority fighter for use against the Soviet Air
Force, but is equipped for ground attack, electronic warfare and
signals intelligence roles as well. Faced with a protracted development
period, the prototype aircraft was designated YF-22 and, as F/A-22
during the three years before formally entering United States Air Force
service in December 2005 as the F-22A. Lockheed Martin Aeronautics is
the prime contractor and is responsible for the majority of the
airframe, weapon systems and final assembly of the F-22. Along with
Lockheed Martin, partner Boeing Integrated Defense Systems provides the
wings, aft fuselage, avionics integration, and all of the pilot and
maintenance training systems.

Achievements

* The F-22 has the ability to cruise at supersonic speeds.
* The Raptor will be the leading American air-to-air fighter of the new century.

The Future of Jet Fighting

- F-35 Lightning

Manufacturers Lockheed Martin Aeronautics
Northrop Grumman
BAE SystemsMaiden flight 15 December 2006Introduction 2011 (scheduled)Status Under development/pre-productionPrimary users United States Air Force
United States Navy
United States Marine Corps
Royal Air Force / Royal NavyProduced 2003-presentUnit cost F-35A: US$48 million
F-35B: US$62 million
F-35C: US$63 millionDeveloped from Lockheed Martin X-35

The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine,
stealth-capable military strike fighter, a multi-role aircraft that can
perform close air support, tactical bombing, and air-to-air combat. The
F-35 is descended from the X-35 of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF)
program. Its development is being principally funded by the United
States with the United Kingdom and other partner governments providing
additional funding. It is being designed and built by an aerospace
industry team led by Lockheed Martin with Northrop Grumman and BAE
Systems as major partners. Demonstrator aircraft flew in 2000; a
production model first took flight on 15 December 2006. The F-35 is
scheduled to be released for service in 2011 and will set a new
standard in fighter jet aviation.

The F-14 are no longer in service with the US Navy. Only Iran operates them now.

Type Interceptor/multi-role Fighter aircraftManufacturer GrummanDesigned by Bob Kress, engineering manager[1]Maiden flight 21 December 1970Introduction September 1974Retired 22 September 2006, USNStatus Active service with Iran, Limited Service in United States NavyPrimary users United States Navy, Islamic Republic of Iran Air ForceNumber built 712Unit cost US$38 million in 1998

Right as was printed,I think Iran also recieves Fighter Aircraft from Russia.

I do have to agree the china's rapid buildup of its naval arm is earning it worldwide recognition in both quality and quantity. But how does the rest of PLC's armed forces compare?

its hard to say since we have had no recent conflicts to see how they performed and I think all parts of the forces are a work in progress in re-arming and re-training. Information that is reliable, verifiable and accessible is very rare .The PLAAN fleet is ok, it how it will look in 10-20 years thats making militray planners think hard, also the Chinese are looking for new tactics and weapons to fight (acknowledging they cant beat the USA straight up on tech/numbers), so there is a good amount of unknowns in what they can do going forward.

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